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Have you had an abortion?
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The Low Hanging Fruit
I am an investigative journalist in NYC. I had an abortion and I am pro abortion on demand. The conditions surrounding my decision are immaterial. Here's all I will say - it was a complete and total relief to have an abortion. I don’t have any regrets.
I take issue with CNN's set up for this story. "How do you feel now?" Is CNN a support group or a news outlet? “How did it change your life?” Really? And, the claim that there aren’t voices out there sharing personal abortion stories is ludicrous. A thirty-second Google search would yield a wealth of results.
And, prepare for the landslide of stories linking PTSD, sterility, breast cancer to abortion: these things will be presented in this forum as fact by anti-choice advocates. Be assured an email blast with this link has been sent to every anti-choice group in the country.
Will CNN do its due diligence in reporting vetting these stories? Will your editors ensure that actual science vs. junk science “validating” the afore mentioned “facts” about the effects of abortion will be debunked? Perhaps CNN can get an intern on caveating these stories (with asterisks and everything) as containing erroneous information? Then CNN can link to real information on the truth about abortion as medical care from actual medical sources?
As an investigative journalist, I am hypersensitive to motive. What is my motive when reporting on a story? Where am I looking to go? How will what I write make a difference to stakeholders and non-stakeholders alike?
What is CNN’s motive? To get at truth? To start a fiery debate that will lead to a spike in hits and viewership? This is easy, low-hanging fruit “reporting”.
What you need to be focusing on is the cycle of poverty among women, the lack of access to reproductive healthcare, the attack across the country on women's right to a legal abortion? In the southern states especially (CNN does know Mississippi's last abortion clinic is on the chopping block thanks to a legion anti-abortion legislators headed by Governor Bryant?).
If CNN is interested in having a conversation about abortion – how about you make it the right one?
I take issue with CNN's set up for this story. "How do you feel now?" Is CNN a support group or a news outlet? “How did it change your life?” Really? And, the claim that there aren’t voices out there sharing personal abortion stories is ludicrous. A thirty-second Google search would yield a wealth of results.
And, prepare for the landslide of stories linking PTSD, sterility, breast cancer to abortion: these things will be presented in this forum as fact by anti-choice advocates. Be assured an email blast with this link has been sent to every anti-choice group in the country.
Will CNN do its due diligence in reporting vetting these stories? Will your editors ensure that actual science vs. junk science “validating” the afore mentioned “facts” about the effects of abortion will be debunked? Perhaps CNN can get an intern on caveating these stories (with asterisks and everything) as containing erroneous information? Then CNN can link to real information on the truth about abortion as medical care from actual medical sources?
As an investigative journalist, I am hypersensitive to motive. What is my motive when reporting on a story? Where am I looking to go? How will what I write make a difference to stakeholders and non-stakeholders alike?
What is CNN’s motive? To get at truth? To start a fiery debate that will lead to a spike in hits and viewership? This is easy, low-hanging fruit “reporting”.
What you need to be focusing on is the cycle of poverty among women, the lack of access to reproductive healthcare, the attack across the country on women's right to a legal abortion? In the southern states especially (CNN does know Mississippi's last abortion clinic is on the chopping block thanks to a legion anti-abortion legislators headed by Governor Bryant?).
If CNN is interested in having a conversation about abortion – how about you make it the right one?
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